Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Denver leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Washington
District of Columbia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
670,587
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Homes cost $165k less ($540,400 vs $705,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $152/mo less ($1,665 vs $1,817)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Washington by $15,869/yr
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Washington, DC
Pros
7% less violent crime than Denver
Households earn $15,869 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Home Value
$165k less
$540,400 vs $705,000
Denver
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$15,869
$101,722 vs $85,853/yr
Washington
Violent Crime
7% lower
925.9 vs 993.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 244⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 670,587 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Denver is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 12 and Washington wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Denver to Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $705,000 median home), income ($85,853 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Washington, DC are about 1,484 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.